The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-22
A BAD BILL OF CHARACTER.
Testimony of Lebanon Citizens Regard
ing DR.. Harrison,s Reputation There.
The Charges Upon Which He Was Once Re-
moved from 0ffice-Dr Lanes Spirited
Remarks Oh the Witness Stand.

Tho investigation of the management of the
Hospital for the Insane was resumed by the
House committee last evening The inquiry
was a diecS one into the character OF DR..
Thomas I'll. Harrison, president of the State be-
neyolent boards, and there were dozen or more
witnesses from Boone county gentlemen OF IN
telligence. and altogether the best appearing
witnesses that have came before the committee.
The first witness was f. NJ. HURT, forty eight
years old, farmer residing in Jackson town
ship Boone county, eight miles from Lebanon.
He testified that he had known DR.. Harrison for
twenty years. When the question was put by
Mr.. Grffths who conducted the inquiry on the
part of the committee, as to the Doctors general
reputation in the neighbornood in which he re-
sides, there were strong objections by Repre-
sentatives Gordon and Niblack, Democratic
members Of the committee, and Mr. Wesner, the
Doctors attorney fought hard, holding that
such an inquiry formed part of an investiga-
ton of the management of the Hospital for the
Insane, and was not authorized under the reso-
hutton.
The witness. under the ruling of Chairman
Gross, that the inquiry into DR.. Harrisons pri-
vate character was proper one for the commit
tee, proceeded. He was acquainted with DR..
Harrison's character for truth and veracty. 1t
was bad His moral character was bad. He
had heard it spoken of by many, Democrats as
we'll as Republicans; among others by Tilghman
Andrews, John Blackmore, John hysing, DR..
Lane, Captain LaFollette, G.. w. Gibson and
Sara Heath. The witness had heard DR.. Harri
son was immoral, and that his influence was de-
cidedy immoral; that he encourages a loose cast
OF morals, and his associations were those of
lewdness. While physician of Lebanon he was
charged with having practced arbortion.
Questionable You hear the names Of persons upon
whom he practiced that!
Answer--I heard the name of a young woman
named p, and of other names not familiar to
Question by Mr.. Wesner-How long ago was this
P matter; was it not twelve years ago!
A.-Perhaps it was.
O., by Judge Roberts Dem.)- not that while he
was Republican and didn't he leave the party
after that9
"A pretty good indication he was about leaving
the party.
John W. Herod, city marshal Of Lebanon. tes-
tilted to having seen DR.. Harrison intoxicated in
the streets Of Lebanon in the latter part of jan
uary, 1887.
Mr.. Wesner asked: twas it not reconciia-
tion he and Sam Heath the man who was with
him. having been enemies, and the day the rail-
road was finished they went up to 10 Bragg's sa-
loon and got couple of drinks2" The witness
did not know as to the reconciliation. Mr.. Wes-
ner then wanted to know If the witness didn't
know that DR.. Harrison had acted with tho tenn
perance party for eight or ten years. The oues-
ton occasioned great laughter among all who
know the forid Doctor
Mr.. Grifiths-If DIR. Harrison has been connected
with the temperance party in the way you mention
will ask If you concluded that the of the 23d of
January he had severed his connection with that
persy' ,,,,r ,.a .r.. hoo, .o,
nected with the .e.ilp erance party.
o.-Why didn't you him in that night!
a.-They were not making any particular noise. and
went down street to a place and stayed there and
didn't see them any more on the street.
DR.. Thomas Ii. Lane a practicng physician
Of Lebanon and now secretary of the county
medical society, produced the record OF Dr..
Harrison's case before that socety April 10,
1876, DIR. Harrison had charges filed against him
in the society, including gross breaches of the
code of ethics, with specifications of election
eerlng to secure business, speaking dlsrespect-
fully of lady patients, and peddiing out his pro
fessional services He was further charged with
criminal practice with circulating slanderous
reports about female patients, and with being
criminally conversant with them. The Doctor
tailed to appear for trial and his name was
stricken from the roll of members The wit
ness, fine-lookng old gentleman, and some
what fiery under the cross-qCestioning of the
Democratic members Of The committee, testified
that Dr. Harrson's reputation for morality il
bad; Is OaC Tor truth ana veraclty. anu ne nearC
many say He was asked to name some wht
were not Republicans, and he gave the names o.
Colonel Kise. John M. Ball and John w. Kise
In the medical profession DR.. Harrison was con
sidered licentious man, and lewd. The witnes.
said he had criminal in tlmacies with women, ant
was frequently charged with practicipg his pro
fession criminally.
Q.-Have you heard any particular cases
AIN the case of Clara e.. That was tn
him once to produce one. The woman is married nov
and leading moral life have frequently heard hin
accused of abortion. had conversation with hin
myself He said he had been guilty but had quit
and didn't propose to do so any more.
Q.-Why didn't the medical profession prosecut
him!
A.-The medical profession is not prosecutor Thes
things were publicly known and prosecution wa
instituted against him.
Here Mr.. Wesner made remark which drew
the witnesses wrath. and he said: mir. Wesne
himself said to me several occasions that h
had helped him (HarriSon out of many scrape
and had even lied to Bob Harrison to keep hin
from knowing it, but that he had never intende
was black, terribly black. That was as late a
ayear ago. Mr.. Wesner said he had kept hir
(Harrson) from being prosecuted. l neve
asked how, and he didn't tell me-"
Here both gentlemen became very angry an
the Doctor as he left the stand, remarked tina
he was responsible for what he said.
e. John M Ball. a Democrat, auditor of Boon
county, testified that he had been acquainte
With DIR. InoilaS ii. harrison Tor hfteen or SIX
teen years. He said the Doctors reputation TO
morality was bad. He produced the record @
the County Commissioners of Boone county
showing proceedings brought June 13, 1873 b
John A. Hysong against Thomas III. Harris 20
to remove the latter from the office of schoe
superintendent of that county. The charge
then fled against Harrison were that he was
person of immoral character, in the habit OF be-
coming intoxicated, of associating wit
women of easy virtue of using pre-
fame snd indecent language in public, c
telling malicious falsehoods, of talking disrs
spectfully of ladies, of bringing in bill agains
the estate of John r. Lawrence for $3.50 an
falsely swearing TO the same when the bill Wa
chaeged from $27 of issuing licenses to appl
cants TO teach wien he knew the applicants ha
failed to pass an examination required by Law
that he was common and malicious liar an